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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a private, nonprofit corporation that operates a radio station and Internet news service. RFA was founded by an act of the US Congress and is operated by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). The RFA is supported in part by grants from the federal government of the United States of America. RFA broadcasts in nine Asian languages for audiences in at least six countries.

Radio Farda is the Iranian Branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) broadcast services. It broadcasts 24 hours a day in the Persian language from its headquarters Prague, Czech Republic. Radio Farda first aired December 2002. Radio Farda broadcasts political, cultural, social, and art news with an emphasis on Iran. The name "Farda" means "tomorrow" in Persian. Radio Farda's broadcasts have been continually blocked by Iranian authorities over the history of its programming.

Radio Australia – the international broadcasting service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) - has launched new multilingual web and social media services. Targeting audiences in Asia and the Pacific, the new digital services bring greater immediacy in coverage of breaking news, major stories, activities and events as they happen in and around Asia and the Pacific including Australia.

New multilingual websites featuring Burmese, French, Indonesian, Khmer, Mandarin, Tok Pisin and Vietnamese will be accompanied by three English language websites, tailored for Asian, Pacific and the wider international audiences. As well as continuing to offer high quality news and current affairs radio programs in multiple languages, Radio Australia’s new web services encourage the sharing, participation and collaboration of stories of interest and relevance among audiences in Asia and the Pacific. English language learning content is also available in five languages.

Visitors to Radio Australia’s new sites will experience more tailored and relevant content thanks to the latest technology that allows location detection enabling content to be delivered to and tailored for audiences on the basis of location and language.

“Socially, politically, and economically, Australia continues to more closely embrace the people, nations and cultures of Asia and the Pacific. Our neighbours in this region are growing in wealth, education and confidence and we are interested in what matters to them, what they are doing and what they have to say. In addition to that, our neighbours are curious about us, as Australians, who we are and what we do, how we live our lives and why we think and perceive issues the way we do. Our new web and social media services provide the opportunity for thoughts, attitudes and opinions to be shared and exchanged,” said Dr Mike McCluskey, CEO of Radio Australia.

2012 World Radio TV HandbookThe 2012 World Radio TV Handbook, the ultimate and most comprehensive reference book for broadcast radio hobbyists, is now available from Grove Enterprises and other Monitoring Times advertisers.This year’s 66th edition begins with receiver reviews for the Alinco DX-R8E, Pappradio- a software-defined radio, Reuter Elektronic RDR54C, WinRadio Excalibur Pro, and two portable receivers, Sangean ATS-909X and the Tecsun PL-660. There is also a one-page guide to HF radios currently available in the marketplace that gives an objective comparison for each receiver based on size, selectivity, dynamic range and overall value. WRTH also includes a Receiver Testing feature that explains the technical terms used in their equipment reviews, and how they apply when testing receivers.Radio & the Arab Spring, by Chris Greenway explains how radio played only a limited role in last year's uprising, and the preferred source of information may surprise you.Tristan da Cunha, one of the remotest inhabited places of earth, was at one time, the most sought-after station on shortwave radio. Very few DXers own the elusive verification from now silent Tristan Radio. Manfred Rippich takes readers on a fascinating journey of the island's history, the role of radio and what the settlement's future may hold.Freelance writer Hans Johnson returns to Radio Bulgaria with a behind the scenes look at the people who produce the English language service of Radio Bulgaria.As in past editions of the WRTH, George Jacobs reprises his annual expertise, this year featuring, HF Broadcasting Over 50 Years & 2012 Reception Characteristics, followed by an analysis of Most Suitable Frequencies for 2012.The national radio section of the WRTH covers worldwide domestic radio services. Listings in this section are arranged by-country and include stations broadcasting to a national listening audience on medium wave, shortwave, and FM, and include contact information and a website for each station on the Internet.The International radio section contains listings of stations broadcasting to an international audience in the shortwave and medium wave bands. Information on each station includes station name, contact information, broadcast schedules, email and websites. This year, WRTH has included where possible, languages available only via webcast.The clandestine and other target broadcast section includes stations broadcasting politically motivated programming or those targeted at zones of regional or local conflict, followed by a one-page listing of Religious Broadcasters Cross Reference Table..The by-frequency section of the WRTH cover medium wave and shortwave frequencies in this year’s list, plus by-hour listings for transmissions in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.For the Digital Radio Mondiale monitoring enthusiasts, the DRM International Broadcast section provides by-hour schedules of stations broadcasting in this digital broadcast mode.The by-country terrestrial television section brings readers up to date on terrestrial TV stations and accompanying radio programs also broadcast on those systems.Finally, there is an extensive reference section that includes global transmitting sites, radio clubs, standard time and frequency transmission schedules, and selected Internet Resources..The World Radio TV Handbook continues to set the gold standard in broadcast reference information. It remains the very best, most authoritative, and comprehensive reference book in the broadcast world. Quite simply, there is no rival. It is an exceptional annual guide that should be in every radio hobbyist listening post.The 2012 World Radio and TV Handbook (BOK03-12) is available from Grove Enterprises http://www.grove-ent.com/ for $29.95 plus S/H. To place an order, call 1-800-438-8155, email order@grove-ent.com , or postal mail to: Grove Enterprises, 7540 Highway 64 West, Brasstown, NC 28902 USA. Review by Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH Monitoring Times-March 2012

The 16th Edition of the 2012 Shortwave Frequency Guide, one of several annual radio reference books and CDs available from Klingenfuss Publications, has recently been released.This year’s 408 page book starts out with a general overview of radio observations by Joerg Klingenfuss (author/publisher), followed by a section devoted to monitoring utility stations. This chapter will be of special interest to utility listeners and includes a basic explanation of the various aspects of utility monitoring and a by-frequency listing of stations with call signs, station name, mode and details.The heart of this book and its primary focus is on shortwave broadcast stations, frequencies, and schedules. The 2012 Shortwave Frequency Guide covers the latest 2012schedules for all clandestine, domestic, and international broadcast stations worldwide, which is derived from the Klingenfuss 2012 Super Frequency List on CD.In the broadcast radio stations by frequency section there is some introductory material and a segment devoted to Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) that includes a comprehensive list of DRM schedules. A brief look to the future of shortwave and the continuing debate over it's decline. The by-frequency list starts at 2310 kHz and goes to 26060 kHz. Each frequency listing includes the station name, location, start and end times of each broadcast, language, target area, and selected remarks.If focusing on a particular country of interest is useful to you, then the by-country section of the book, labeled the “Alphabetical List of Broadcast Radio Stations” in the Table of Contents, will be of particular interest.Frequency information for international broadcast stations, clandestine, and domestic stations are accurate at time of publication and does include seasonal frequency adjustments. Klingenfuss uses a volunteer staff of radio listeners and broadcasters worldwide that contribute information to this publication and keep its information accurate and up-to-date.The easy-to read book is a real asset in the radio shack, regardless of whether you monitor the utility bands or enjoy transmissions from shortwave broadcast stations. The 2012 Shortwave Frequency Guide is an excellent annual publication for the beginner or experienced radio hobbyist who wants a complete HF spectrum reference book (utility/broadcast station listings). This is a basic no-frills radio reference guide and it will definitely complement your monitoring time at the dials.To order the 2012 Klingenfuss Shortwave Frequency Guide book, go to the Klingenfuss website at www.klingenfuss.org or order from U.S. source Universal Radio at www.universal-radio.com . From Universal, it is book number # 5799 selling for $49.95 plus shipping and handling. You can also order from Universal via phone 1-800-431-3939 or Fax at 1-614-866-2339 (postal mail: Universal Radio, Inc., 6830 Americana Parkway, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-4113 USA).Review by Gayle Van Horn, W4GVHMonitoring Times, March 2012

Special thanks to Bob Padula for sharing his monitoring observations from Australia. What are you hearing from your part of the world ?

As at Feb 28 2012, solar update from IPS, Sydney:

Solar Flux 105Equivalent smoothed sunspot number 54.

Classified by IPS as low.

Yesterday afternoon, I was in the Warrandyte State Park, 15 km from central Melbourne, about 25 mins drive time from my home here in Mont Albert, and did some propagation research with the little Eton E5 and 3 m of random antenna, from the Jumping Creek Picnic Ground, on the banks of the Yarra.

Plenty of action on 9 MHz and 11 MHz, dominated by longpath signals from Europe, Africa, Middle East, and shortpath from Asia and the Americas.

This is the summary of key occupancies, as noted between 0400 and 0430 (1500 to 1530 local Melbourne summer time)

Audiences are to be given unprecedented behind the scenes access as part of a special day of live programming on 29 February, to mark the BBC World Service’s 80th birthday. Highlights from the day will include a special global audience with Sir David Attenborough and The Strand - the WS global arts programme - will be edited by guest artist and music producer William Orbit. Audiences will be able to join a special debate about what they want from the World Service, both on air, online and across social media forums. (#bbcws80)

The day will give audiences around the world a unique insight into production of their favourite programmes and multilingual videos will be produced of all the broadcasts throughout the day online at bbc.co.uk/worldservice. For the first time audiences will be invited to watch and participate in over 12 hours of programmes in English and across more than 12 different languages. The day will be hosted by BBC Persian’s Pooneh Ghoddoosi and BBC World Service presenter Ros Atkins.

BBC World Service’s daily morning editorial meeting, which normally takes place behind the doors of Bush House, will be opened up and broadcast live for the first time. In this meeting - a daily part of life in the building - the newsroom’s editors discuss and agree the big stories and developments and decide on which stories will shape the day’s news agenda.

The open courtyard of Bush House will host many of the programmes that day. Flagship programmes such as Newshour and World Have Your Say will invite audiences to join a conversation about international broadcasting and the future priorities of the BBC World Service. Listeners around the world - and the audience at Bush House - will have the chance to shape the news agenda and debate by making suggestions from the floor, or through Twitter, Facebook and Skype.

Peter Horrocks, Director of BBC Global News, said: “The 80th birthday and departure from Bush House means these are historic and changing times for the BBC World Service. We want our audiences to be at the heart of both the commemoration of the past and conversation about the future.”

BBC World Service Commissioning Editor, Steve Titherington, said: “We are turning Bush House inside out showing who we are and what we do to our audiences and asking what the world wants next from the BBC World Service.”

Not only celebrating 80 years of broadcasting, this special day of programming marks the start of the BBC World Service’s move from Bush House, its iconic London home for over 70 years, to a new state of the art broadcasting centre in Oxford Circus. The move will see all of the BBC’s news services - UK and international - based together for the first time. The aim is to create ‘the world’s newsroom’ - enhancing the BBC’s global newsgathering and creating a forum for the best journalism in the world.

Programming

BBC World Service English - much of the day’s global schedule from 07:00 to 23:00 GMT will broadcast live from outside Bush House. Programming highlights from this day include:

09:00 - The live news meeting - normally conducted behind closed doors, audiences will for the first time be given insight into the inner workings of the newsroom.11:00 - World Have Your Say - the global interactive news discussion programme will ask audiences around the world what they want the programme to be about on that day.15:00 - A live global audience with Sir David Attenborough.17:00 - World Business Report and Focus on Africa will link up to broadcast a special programme asking how business journalism is reporting the financial crisis with Alistair Darling [Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer] on the panel, and looking at the creative energy and entrepreneurship coming out of Africa.19:00 Health Check - will air a special programme to launch The Human Race Season - a raft of programmes examining the human body. Endurance runners and sprinters, sports psychologists, doctors and coaches will all be in the courtyard to try to answer ‘What makes an Olympic athelete?’20:00 – 22:00 - Newshour, BBC World Services flagship current affairs show, will broadcast a special debate looking at the future of international broadcasting.22:00 – 23:00 - The Strand Extra - BBC World Service’s global arts show, will be edited by special guest artist and music producer William Orbit.(Source: BBC World Service Press Office)

150th Anniversary Battle of Hampton RoadsMar 9-11, 1000-1700 UTC. W4M, Newport News, VA. The Mariners' Museum. SSB CW All HF. Certificate. Cindi Verser, The Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Dr, Newport News, VA 23606. Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle between the Civil War Ironclads CSS Virginia and USS Monitor. Friday March 9, 2012 school children will get the opportunity to make contacts between 0900 -1700 hours. March 9-10 station runs 0900-1700 hours; March 11 station times 1200-1700. SASE or stamps for Certificate. Contact ironcladbattle@gmail for more information. ironcladbattle@gmail.com

Civil War Battle of Shiloh, TN 150th AnniversaryMar 30-Apr 1, 1200-2000 UTC, NA5MS, New Albany, MS. Northeast Mississippi Amateur Radio Club. Operating on; 3.860 MHz. Certificate. Charles Buster, 305 N Broad St, New Albany, MS 38652. Operating from the Shiloh Battlefield during a weekend reenactment of the battle. Operating in the lower parts of the General phone bands and 10meter Technician band. Certificate is a special limited edition unfolded lithographed print for $4.00 US postage included. Full color QSL available for $1.00 US postage included. Mailing should be received within 30 days of event.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Albania7530, Radio Tirana. Signal on the air at 2058:58 and immediately into interval signal. Musicto lady announcer's voice-over ID and English schedule announcement. News opening announcement from announcer, followed by music. Strong signal. (Brian Alexander, PA/Cumbre)

Bangladesh4750.00, Radio Bangladesh Betar, 1200-1215. Female taking the mic between music until 1203 when some sort of religious programming begins with chanting and comments by the female. At 1206 a male begins talking with flute music in the background. Signal was fair to good.(Chuck Bolland, FL)

Bolivia5952.48, Emisora Pio XII, 1030-1045. Muffled and weak signal here with a female'sSpanish comments. Can't clearly make out what she is saying for sure. At 1031 music heard as background. Getting a lot of splatter from nearby signal. Pio XII remained at a poor level during the period. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Egypt6270, Radio Cairo, 2205. Male/female announcers with totally muffled talk to Middle Eastern instrumentals with good audio at 2211. Return of female announcer with slightly less muffled audio to station ID and mention of US Senator John McCain at 2213. Music instrumentals with good audio at 2214. Good signal wasted with muffled talk (Mark Coady, Canada/Cumbre)

Ethiopia9705, Radio Ethiopia, 2025-2101.* Local Horn of Africa music. Amharic talk. Sign off with national anthem at 2059. Good signal. (Brian Alexander-PA/Cumbre)

9705 Radio Ethiopia, 2045. Excellent signal with Horn of Afica pop music. Pop music and Arabic style songs. Male announcer at 2055 over the music. Usual news format and fanfares to brief news briefs. Canned station ID and mentions of "program" several times. ID sounds like "NEE-Jes-car Radio". Choral national anthem to 2101 and off. (Brian Alexander, PA/Cumbre)

Guatemala4055, Radio Verdad, 1108-1125. Tune-in to interval signal on electronic keyboard. National anthem at 1111. Opening multi-lingual ID announcements at 1116 along with contact information. Religious music at 1122 and Spanish talk. Fair at tune-in but poor in noise by 1125. (Brian Alexander, PA/HCDX)

Guyana3289.99, The Voice of Guyana/Guyana Broadcasting Corp., Georgetown. Very nice signal 2/17 0750 past 0835. Not rare DX by any means, but highly enjoyable;Noted with BBC relay at tune-in, which lasted until 0800, when local announcer said, "it is now 4 hours in Guyana . . . this is the Voice of Guyana, broadcasting on 560 kiloHertz in the medium wave band . . . and 102.5 megaHertz in FM stereo in Guyana . . ." Then a very nice choral national anthem to formally start their local broadcast day, sounding almost hymnlike. At 0404, live deejay again, "Good morning, everyone! This is the V-O-G, the Voice of Guyana. The Broadcasting Corporation of Guyana has its broadcasting house located at . . . and on 760 kiloHertz in the medium wave band . . . It is now 4 hours 4 minutes." Tuned away but on return at 0835, signal had further improved and delightful Hindi musical program in progress. (Ralph Perry, IL/playdx)

Libya11600, Radio Télévision Libye - Radio Libye. Looking for Libya at various times between 1630-1800 UTC but nothing heard. (Brian Alexander-PA/Cumbre)

Madagascar5010.00, Radio Madagasikara, 0218-0245. Carrier + USB. Tune-in to local African music. 25 second interval signal at 0229 followed by choral national anthem. Local guitar music and opening announcements at 0231. Malagasy talk. Local choral music. La Bamba song. Weak but readable. (Brian Alexander-PA/Cumbre)

5985.85, Myanma Radio, 1112-1146. Vernacular language. Pop easy-listening music and songs. Phone ringing and beginning of conversations, “Radio Myanma.”; Indigenous music at 1130 UTC, but no longer with chimes. One of their best receptions. Edited MP3 audio at http://www.box.com/s/3sa7ceprcme9nvvk9v1u.

7110, Myanma Radio, 1133-1201. Distance Learning Service segment is longer than I first thought, perhaps 1130 to 1200 (or longer?). Sounds like they play a song or jingle between lectures (college song or theme song?). Along with marching band music and trumpet fanfares -a lecture on economics in vernacular. Many mentions of “economics” along with one sentence in English. “Economics is the study of economy and of similar . . .”(?), 1201 back to music. MP3 audio clip with English at 0:33 http://www.box.com/s/7q9u6n5duxp7qngeungh. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre)

Niger9704.99, LV du Sahel, 2101-2301.* Threshold signal heard when Ethiopia signed off at 2101. Improved to a weak but readable level by 2140. Vernacular and French talk. Wide variety of indigenous music, Afro-pop and Euro-pop music. Qur`an at 2255:40. Short 20 second flute interval signal at 2259 followed bynNational anthem. Some adjacent channel splatter. (Brian Alexander-PA/Cumbre)

Peru6173.89, presumed Radio Tawantinsuyu, Cusco. Tune-in and holding up past 1052. Weak to fair signal strength only. Reception best with narrowest bandwidth and in ECSS-LSB with notch deployed to knock out annoying het from Asian station on 6175.00. Couple male announcer's alternating in Spanish and occasionally presumed Quechua. Odd programming this morning, no music at all, and at first mistakenly thought might be taped replay from sporting event, from night before (had a bit of that kind of cadence to the announcements). But then noted many clear, live time checks in a "doubling-up" kind pattern throughout entire program of " . . . las cinco de la manana, las cinco de la manana, amigos oyentes. Adelante!! . . ." So, was a live broadcast. Most of the time, only fragments of speech were decipherable, such as at 1017, " . . . muy buenos dias, Cusco . . . la primera voz . . . de la patria . . ." Taped ads were noted at 1024 and 1047, during which hward different, more bassy-voiced man in studio echo effect. Almost sounded like live feed from remote, but at 5:30 a.m. in Cusco that doesn't make too much sense. Not sure what this was, but could have been live feed from Ash Wednesday morning procession or something else like that. Will be diligently patrolling this frequency in the mornings now and hoping for better conditions soon. (Ralph Perry, IL/Cumbre)

5039.18, Radio Libertad de Junin. Signal on the air at 0942:30. Music began at 0944:55. Long canned echo talk by announcer 0948-0955, then different male announcer to pleasant Latin American music. Another canned announcement at 1000. Music and farm animal (cows, chickens, crickets) SFX, and live studio announcer with long talk. Good signal. (Brian Alexaner, PA/Cumbre)

5120, Ondas del Suroriente. Found the signal came on at 1047:54.Programming finally started at 1104:10. Canned announcement by male announcer, but just couldn't copy. Fairly strong when the signal came on but it faded quickly in 15 minutes. (Brian Alexander, PA/Cumbre)

4955, Radio Cultural Amauta. Suddenly on in mid-progrma at 1046:25 with nice campo music. Announcer in presumed Quechua, followed by choral music. Fanfare and very beautiful clear ID as - "desde cuidad de Huanta, transmite radio Cultural Amauta en FM 9?.9 estereo". Back to campo music at 1053 for about 45 seconds, then live studio male announcer again over the song with nice quick ID and talk. Mentioned a few cities and towns. Continued song, and announcer returned again at 1058:00 with another ID and more announcements. More of the same music and talk with mentions of Huanta, Pasco, cultural. Very nice signal. (Brian Alexander, PA/Cumbre)

6173.916, Radio Tawantinsuyo, 1034-1045. Male's Spanish comments with an adjacent signal on 6175.026 KHz causing a hetrodyne. Noted signal as very poor and muffled.(Chuck Bolland, FL)

The State We're InJonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

For the Record

A former US serviceman on founding America’s first black platoon of paratroopers; a journalist from Ghana on why he went undercover to expose wrongdoings, and a Senegalese hip hop artist on returning to her home village to break the taboos about female genital mutilation.

First airing: Saturday 02:00 UTC

Earth BeatMarnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we’re leaving on our planet.

The End of the World

What would happen if the world came to an end, at least as we know it? From building bunkers and preparing for the worst, to photographing parts of the Earth that we’ve destroyed, we examine what happens when the end comes.

First airing: Friday 03:00 UTC

South Asia WiredStories from South Asia.

We meet Bangladeshi photographer and social activist Shahidul Alam, who’s worked as a university lecturer and professor in various places in the world. Alam he keeps coming back to his native country, though. He’s recently published a book of his finest works, titled “My Journey as a Witness”. He takes us along on that journey in this edition of the programme.

Also on the show the rather peculiar story of Indian Arunchalam Muruganantham, who has developed a cheap alternative to sanitary pads for women. The social entrepreneur has invented a machine that is used by women groups and neighbourhoods all over India, where women make their own pads.

The Dutch government has announced drastic budget cuts that threaten one of the oldest and best-loved ethnographic museums in the Netherlands. The Tropical Museum in Amsterdam with its impressive African collection might be forced to close its doors at the end of this year.

Our guest in this edition of Africa in Progress is Paul Faber, head curator of the Africa department at the museum. He explains why artefacts from Africa are so important for present-day Dutch society and considers different measures that could help save his beloved institution.

Commonwealth StoryA selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

The Kettle, by Jason James Less from New Zealand. A story from the boxing ring. Read by Khalid Abdalla.

First airing: Tuesday 01:50 UTC

Global PerspectiveWho says I can’t… is the motto of this year’s collaboration of international broadcasters, offering stories of defiance and perseverance.

Who says I can’t squat?

Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s Dheera Sujan visits Sanne, Tom and Bo – three Dutch squatters. She hears their struggle to build – and keep – their home amid the new anti-squat laws in the Netherlands.

First airing: Monday 17:30 UTC

Hear the WorldThe current series of European Jazz Stage has come to an end. But don’t despair, there’s plenty of good music to come. We’ve started a new series of Hear the World, hosted by Dheera Sujan.

Latin, salsa, reggae and African music are the ingredients in this first edition.

Timbazo is a thirteen-piece Latin band Cuban playing timba, jazz and salsa.Singer and guitarist Khalu Dee from Senegal made a great impression at the 2010 Afro-Latino Festival.And you’ll be surprised by a recent recording in our special Dutch Music Delights slot.

First airing: Monday 01:00 UTC

RNW ClassicalClassical concerts from the Royal Concertgebouw as well as studio recordings of Dutch performers, presented by Hans Haffmans.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces the release of our 43nd QSL card. This QSL commemorates 2012 as the Year of the Dragon. According to ChineseZodiac.Com, Dragons are characterized as ambitious, risk takers, and as people who gravitate toward challenges. If left on their own and allowed to live by their own rules, Dragons are usually successful. Dragons are also passionate in everything they do and while they frequently help others, Dragons will rarely ask for help. The Year of the Dragon is from January 23, 2012 – February 9, 2013. This QSL card will be used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports for January-February 2012.

RFA’s 43rd QSL card commemorates 2012 as the Year of the Dragon.

RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information to listeners in Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA currently broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin, the Wu dialect, Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest. More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at http://www.rfa.org/

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener. RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at http://www.techweb.rfa.org/ (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience.

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org , and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to:

MBR (Media Broadcast) Germany brokerRadio Oeoemrang1600-1700 on 15215*WER 500 kW / 300 deg Tue to WeEu/NoAm German Feb.21 only* but on same frequency 1600-1630 is AWR/KSDA in English with strong signal

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has called upon the world’s nations to take “necessary actions” to stop intentional interference with satellite transmissions.

The change in ITU regulations, which was approved at the just-concluded World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in Geneva, Switzerland, came after numerous complaints that international satellite TV programs in Persian and Arabic were suffering from deliberate interference, known as “jamming”.

Two satellite operators that have been targeted, Eutelsat and Arabsat, said the interfering signals originated from Iran and Syria.

“We are gratified to see the World Radiocommunication Conference take a position on this vital issue,” said Richard M. Lobo, Director of the United States International Broadcasting Bureau.

“Of course, it remains to be seen whether Iran, Syria and other countries which interfere with international satellite communications will change their practices. Jamming is a fundamental violation, not only of international regulations and norms, but of the right of people everywhere to receive and impart information,” Lobo said.

The interference, which has increased since September, 2011, affected broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting Board of Governors , Audiovisuel extérieur de la France RFI and France 24 TV, Deutsche Welle, and RFE/RL, Inc.’s Radio Farda. Joining in backing the ITW rule change were Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the European Broadcasting Union.

The change in the regulation came after hours of discussion and debate, both in small groups and on the floor of the WRC. A report by the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board noted “the persistent character of the harmful interference” and the fact that “in some cases, the administrations involved have not responded … and appear to take no action to resolve the interference.”

The revised language says administrations “shall ascertain the facts and take the necessary actions” when they encounter jamming.

Prior to the WRC action, the Directors-General of five major international broadcasters charged that jamming is a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Reporters Without Borders called for nations to “firmly condemn countries that do not respect the fundamental principles of the free flow of information,” adding, “the ITU must not be the accomplice of regimes that obstruct the flow of news and information on their telecommunications networks.”

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran termed satellite jamming part of a broader effort. “The Iranian government is also engaged in comprehensive attempts to take complete control of online access to the internet as well as restricting mobile voice and data communications,” the group said in a statement urging the WRC to address the jamming issue.(Leticia King/BBG)

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Join us from Monday, February 20 2012 to enter the fascinating world of Australian radio broadcasting in 1922 on the Mailbox program from Radio New Zealand International.

For 20 years, Australian radio amateurs had the right to broadcast local music and other programs on the standard mediumwave radio dial, sharing frequencies with licenced commercial radio stations in the evenings and on Sunday mornings.

You can listen directly via shortwave radio from RNZI in New Zealand, or audio on demand [for the following month] with full details of current broadcast frequencies [both DRM and analog] and times possible for your area as well as audio downloads at http://www.rnzi.com/ .

In the years between 1921 and 1922, over 50 local radio stations were broadcasting in Australia, all run by local radio amateurs.

Some of these operations were very sophisticated for their time, broadcasting for nearly 10 hours each week and operators soon going on to help establish the ABC and commercial radio stations.

2CM Sydney was the first station with 3ME Melbourne, 4CM Brisbane, and 5BG Adelaide also amongst the early starters.

In the program, you'll hear more about these stations and the pioneers such as Charles MacLurcan, Ray Allsop, Harry Douglas, Sydney Neuman, Thomas Elliott and others.

You'll also hear some of the music played by these early radio stations, which stayed on the air until late 1939 when WWII finally silenced them.

So join us from Monday, February 20 2012 as we enjoy some early Australian radio history from 90 years ago on the Mailbox program from Radio New Zealand International [www.rnzi.com].(Radio Heritage Mail/HCDX) (photo/Atwater Kent)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

3945, Radio Vanuatu, Emten Lagoon, 1108-1233 UTC, Feb 07. Running well past their normal sign off time, in vernacular. Many IDs, talk in large room (poor audio), background sounds of phone ringing, and several mentions of “government of Vanuatu.” At 1121 - station promo: “hello. I am Captain Jesse Wilson, the Mission Commander for Pacific Partnership 2011 and when I am in Vanuatu, I listen to Radio Vanuatu.” Announcement at 1122 that at “half past ten” (1130 UT) there would be information about "Cyclone Jasmine." Pop songs, 1130-1138 Report about Cyclone Jasmine (wind speeds and direction), provided emergency phone number at Port Moresby and also a website. Pop island songs. Another update at 1216 on Cyclone Jasmine, 1225announcement. C&W music. Based on my daily monitoring of this, today was well above normal reception. Four minute edited MP3 audio at www.box.com/s/mzlrp4lvclnglrn07jac .(Ron Howard, CA/DX WIndow 488)

Station ID in Bamar given as: "Rakhine Athan Lwin Thana ma athan lwin ne baday, yakhu achien ga sa bi thayinda asisingo set la athan klwin ba may shin ", (we are broadcasting from Rakhine Broadcasting Station, from now you will listen our minority language program"). According to station announcement in Bamar this morning (Feb 07), they started broadcasting minority language program three times daily:

7345, Myanma Radio, Nay Pyi Taw (presumed), 1030-1330*, Feb 07, 08, 09 and 11. Burmese dialects, spots of music with few announcements in vernaculars. Sign off with repeat of two gongs plus drum, SINPO 34433 in Sri Lanka, SINPO 24132 in Denmark. CNR 1 heard in Chinese weaker on 7345 at 1330-1405 // 6030. (Goonetilleke and Petersen). This must be the new minority language program ”Rakhine Broadcasting Station.” According to the Danish Newspaper Jyllandsposten in a report from Yangon Feb 10, all Burmese journalists still have to get their articles censured before publishing, if allowed at all. This cannot be a new, independent station, but a new program from Myanma Radio. (Ed)

Solar activity began the week at moderate levels due to an M1/Sf flare produced by Region 1410 (N18, L=056, class/area Cso/240 on 01 February) at 06/2000 UTC. Activity levels decreased to very low to low levels for the remainder of the week. Noteworthy events includea long duration C7 limb event from Region 1410 at 07/2219 UTC, and a CME associated with a filament eruption at 10/1154 UTC. Region 1410 produced a long duration C7 limb event at 07/2219 UTC.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit started the period at normal background levels, increased to moderate levels on 07 February, and reached high levels on 08-09 February. The electron flux returned to moderate levels for the remainder of theperiod.

The geomagnetic field was at mostly quiet levels for the majority of the period. There were a few periods of unsettled to active conditions at mid-latitudes with active to minor storm conditions at high latitudes, early in the week on 7 and 8 February. This activity was associated with solar wind speeds between 450-500 km/s and periods of southward Bz. Mid-day on 09 February, unsettled to active periods were observed at high latitudes due to the arrival of aco-rotating interaction region followed by a weak coronal hole high speed stream. From late on 09 February until the end of the period, mostly quiet conditions prevailed.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 15 February - 12 March 2012

Solar activity is expected to be low with a slight chance of M-class activity until Region 1419 rotates off the visible disk on 26 February. Very low to low levels are expected to prevail for the remainder of the period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at low to moderate levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at mostly quiet levels throughout the period, with the exception of any currently unanticipated future CME events. Increased field activity due torecurrent disturbances is expected on 18-19 February, 23 February, 2-3 March, and 7 March.

Today a category 4 tropical cyclone (Giovanna) crossed the island of Madagascar. The road from the capital city to our relay station is a mud stream right now and lower parts of the Island are flooded. Schools and businesses are closed.

First reports mention a lot of damage. We lost the roofs from two small buildings including the high voltage area. So this forced us to close down the operation this morning completely because of the massive rain showers. Four antennas and two satellite dishes are damaged and need to be repaired. Fortunately the transmitter building was not damaged and luckily none of our team was injured. Also our office in Antananarivo in Ivandry had some damage and we lost our wireless link from the office to the station. Communication with the station is difficult.

Tomorrow at daylight we can exactly assess the damage and start repairing. We expect to be on air with the most important services at 1300 UTC. We’ve been in contact with all clients. IBB, DWL and Vatican will try to cover from their own sites.(Source: Rocus de Joode, RNW Programme Distribution/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Friday, February 10, 2012

The State We're InJonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

Valentine’s Special

How a Palestinian Romeo crept through illegal tunnels to be with his Juliet in Gaza. Why an American sociologist thinks that monogamy virtually guarantees cheating. What happened when a woman in Toronto answered an ad for female escorts. And how a man annoyed a woman so much on a flight... she married him.

First airing: Saturday 02:00 UTC

Earth BeatMarnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we’re leaving on our planet.

Valentine’s Special

We go all gooey on the inside, for people with a passion for what they do. There was the man who panned for gold to make a very special ring, the tea drinker who turned her love of a nice cuppa into a career, and a woman mapping where we make out. Pucker up, cos this show’s a labour of LOVE.

First airing: Friday 03:00 UTC

South Asia WiredStories from South Asia.

This week on South Asia Wired, we feature a harrowing story on modern day witch hunting in Chhattisgarh as three women recount how they were beaten, stripped and electrocuted after they were accused of being witches. And we hear from the people who are trying to combat this medieval practice by introducing modern ideas of science and law.

(There'll be a new edition of the programme on Thursday )

First airing: Thursday 10:00 UTC

Bridges With AfricaWe're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa.

More than 20,000 flee Mali as Tuareg rebels step up their offensive against the governmentThe Rwandan taxi cyclist going for Olympic goldAnd the new album from Congo’s hottest R N B group, Makoma

Global PerspectiveWho says I can’t… is the motto of this year’s collaboration of international broadcasters, offering stories of defiance and perseverance.

Who says I can’t die… or live?

Bun Chai, who is paralysed from the neck down, made a public appeal to the Hong Kong government for the right to end his life… and in the process found a way to live. We hear Bun Chai’s story from Radio Television Hong Kong.

First airing: Monday 17:30 UTC

European Jazz StageUnique jazz performances from the continent’s hottest clubs, concert halls and festivals, including the spectacular North Sea Jazz Festival.

From the Mississippi Hall at the 2010 North Sea Jazz Festival, it's a line-up of unknown, but promising artists.

16-year-old Canadian jazz phenomenon Nicky Yanofsky, the incredible Royal Conservatory Big Band packed with young talent, and Maite Hontelé, a young woman from Holland who's blowing her 'trompeta del son' across the port of Rotterdam.

Your host is Benjamin Herman.

First airing: Monday 01:00 UTC

RNW ClassicalClassical concerts from the Royal Concertgebouw as well as studio recordings of Dutch performers, presented by Hans Haffmans.

It is not very often that you can hear a new HF shortwave radio station sign on the air. WTWW a new International Shortwave Radio facility just outside of Nashville, TN is launching a new transmitter this Saturday with a broadcast we are calling “This Is Only A Test” starting at 4 pm Central Standard Time. This is a 100,000 watttransmitter running into a full size rhombic antenna.

This is a global radio event with radios being tuned in all over the world.

The QSO radio show has requested that we could air this broadcast as a amateur radio event to promote amateur radio along with shortwave listening. Why? Well, the shortwave listening audience is huge.

The typical shortwave radio listener is a great potential candidate for amateur radio.

There are more than 1.5 billion shortwave receivers in use worldwide, the BBC estimates that at any given moment, over 200 million sets are tuned to shortwave broadcasts.

This is the second time WTWW has allowed us to conduct this kind of broadcast on a powerful new shortwave facility.

The purpose of this broadcast is to demonstrate HF communications and to put radio amateurs on the air to a worldwide audience to tell their story.

This is not a commercial venture in any way.

So spread the word to all of your amateur radio friends and call us on Saturday on “This Is Only A Test” and talk to the world about Amateur Radio!

OmanRadio Sultanate of Oman 13750. Caught at 1433 with Arabic to eastern Africa. Koranic chanting into long-winded discussion program between two men. Fair signals, considering the broadcast is supposed to be beamed to eastern Africa. (Al Muick, PA/HCDX)

Sudan7200, SRTC, *0255-0328. Abrupt sign on with Arabic talk. Chirping birds at 0259. Local chants at 0320. Fair, but covered by Iran at their 0328 sign on. (Brian (Alexander, PA)

Thailand9720, Radio Thailand, Udon Thani, 1231-1235. English service newscast with emphasis on issues concerning Thailand and India. Moderate signal strength with a small amount of fading. (Jim Evans, TN)

On Friday, 11 May we will have a marathon [Dutch] radio broadcast in which we look back with pride at 65 years of Dutch radio for expatriates, and which will also serve as the ‘farewell’ broadcast. Activities in other languages, especially those for the Dutch Caribbean and Indonesia, will also be discussed in detail. The choice of date has to do with the preparation time required to produce the radio marathon.

The activities of the Dutch department will be phased out, but the timetable will depend on the progress of the reorganization and the available manpower needed to guarantee the quality of the programmes. No formal decision has yet been made about the date of the final Dutch radio broadcast. However it is extremely unlikely that Dutch language radio broadcasts will continue through the summer.(Source: RNW Editor-in-Chief/R Netherlands Media network Weblog )

Friday, February 03, 2012

With Iran and Israel currently leading the news, this would be an excellent time to monitor both on shortwave. Kol Israel, in recent years have reduced their shortwave service to two hours in Persian as; 1500-1600 UTC on 9985 and 13850 and 1600-1630 UTC (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun) on 9985 and 13850 kHz. Israel's Galei Tzahal operates in Hebrew, 24 hours on 7635 kHz.

Tensions could expand and following shortwave is a great extra source.

VOIRI - Iran

Effective to: 25 March 2012

All times UTC

Albanian0630-0727 on 13810 155001830-1927 on 6085 97602030-2127 on 6165 9760